Word To Use Today: paranymph.

Our paranymph turned up (late, and at the wrong railway station) in a purple nylon suit and suede shoes.

He hadn't prepared a speech.

'What should I say?' he asked me, when informed that his slot was coming up.

Well, I said, brightly, from under the seventeen hair clips that were holding on my veil, you could say this and this and this and this and this, and then you could slip in an anecdote about your time at college with Roger, and then, when you can't think of anything else to say, you end up by toasting the parents of the bride.

So he got to his feet, raised his glass, said the parents of the bride and sat down again.

Sigh. Ah well, at least the marriage turned out all right.

The word paranymph, meaning best man or bridesmaid, has fallen, sadly, into disuse, but it's too good to lurk dimly within the pages of a dictionary, and I recommend its use on every possible occasion.

Is this anything to do with revenge?

Hm...well, quite possibly, yes.


Photo by Jenny Mealing.

Word To Use Today: paranymph. This word comes from the Latin paranumphos, from numphē, bride and means person beside the bride.